HOW TO use WordPress and design a custom landing page

WordPress may just be one of the best solution for building a web and mobile site. One feature is that a user can create static pages that integrate or fit in with the theme of the site. Here is the easy and quick solution for how to create a custom template and have a fresh new look for landing pages or static pages.

In fact WordPress has a lot of features that make it easy to use as a CMS – content management system and static pages are important. Many themes come with a number of page templates like Archive, Post or Page. This post is not about how to create your own template – this post is how to create a page template just for a landing page or promotions page.

This landing page template doesn’t pull headers, footers or sidebars from your existing theme – but you can make that happen 🙂

How to make a WordPress Template

1. Create a file called my-template.php

2. Add this code at the top
[php]
<?php
/*
Template Name: My Template
*/
?>
[/php]
3. Save the file – For ease you should name your file the same as your template name in the code above

Make your Custom Design Page

Now you can carry on editing this in your favourite web dev tool and get to work … I prefer to work using Coda or TextEdit on my Mac

Finished with the design of your page? Your custom page code ‘could’ look like this

Test or Upload your new custom page

You may have a local version of WordPress on your PC or MAC so copy the custom page template file over to your WordPress theme folder or open your favourite FTP client and login to your www site

Save your file in the WP-Content / Themes / my current theme

Backup this custom page template you will lose this if you change your theme

About Damien Saunders

Damien Saunders is a Management Consultant. When not working, he is based in Brighton, UK. Damien specialises in Programme Management and Product Development.
Damien is a serial entrepreneur starting his first business at age 14. Currently Damien is specialising in the development of project management tools using jQuery, SharePoint and stuff.